Outdoor spinner display



V- A. ROSS ET AL OUTDOOR SPINNER DISPLAY Dec. 27, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 8, 1952 2/2 0 77 41 EM. A?

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OUTDOOR SPINNER DISPLAY Filed Oct. 8, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIEJI] 1Z0 1 J27 A mu Dec. 27, 1955 Filed Oct. 8, 1952 V- A. ROSS ET AL OUTDOOR SPINNER DISPLAY 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORSZ VALENT INE A. ROSS FRED DRUEC K, JR. BY:

ATTORN YS United States Patent DUTDOOR SPINNER DISPLAY Valentine A. Ross and Fred Drueck, Jr., Chicago, Ill.,

assignors to Chicago Cardboard Company, a corporation of Illinois Application October 8, 1952, Serial No. 313,742

10 Claims. (Cl. 40-39) This invention relates to spinning outdoor display devices, and in particular it relates to a display in which a plurality of brightly colored spinner devices are strung on a cord so as to be rotated at random by the wind.

Spinning displays of the general character here disclosed are commonly used in filling stations, theaters and similar commercial establishments to attract attention of passers-by. Such spinner displays must be quite inexpensive, and must be sufficiently durable that they can withstand several weeks or months of exposure to the weather.

The spinner device here disclosed may be readily formed from a single piece of stiif sheet material, such as laminar paperboard, in simple cutting, scoring and forming operations. As used herein the term stiff means that the material is not limp, i. e., that it will retain its shape without drooping under the force of gravity. In one form of the device the only elements which need to be inserted into the paperboard body are a pair of grommets and in another form a pair of wire eyes are riveted to the paperboard. In order to be weather resistant, the devices should be made from so-called outdoor board, which is impregnated with a melamine resin and assembled with waterproof adhesives to withstand the weather.

The devices may be strung on a cord for rotation by the wind, lie generally parallel to the line of the cord, and are stably balanced so that they may come to rest at variious angles with respect to the cord. 7

The invention is illustrated in a preferred embodiment and an alternative embodiment in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of three spinner devices of the preferred form as they appear mounted upon a cord;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the preferred form of spinner device;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 4 is a section taken as indicated along the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken as indicated along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 6 is a section taken as indicated along the line 6-6 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is a section taken as indicated along the line 7--7 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 8 is an elevational view of three spinner devices of an alternative form as they appear mounted upon a cord;

Fig. 9 is a plan view of the alternative form of spinner device;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation thereof;

Fig. 11 is an end elevation thereof;

Fig. 12 is a section taken as indicated along the line 12-12 of Fig. 10;

Fig..13 is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the cord and a positioning means which is crimped thereon, a portion of the spinner device being shown in section;

2,728,154 Patented Dec. 27, 1955 Fig. 14 is a fragmentary section 'takenas indicated along the line 1414 of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a side elevation of the positioning means before it is crimped on the cord;

Fig. 16 is an elevational view of several spinner devices of a second alternative form mounted upon a cord;

Fig. 17 is a plan view of the second alternative form;

Fig. 18 is a plan view of the blank for forming said second alternative form;

Fig. 19 is a side elevational view of the second alternative form of the device; and

Fig. 20 is an end elevational view thereof, viewing the device of Fig. 19 from the right hand end. i

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and referring first to the preferred form of the device illustrated in Figs. 1 to 7, a spinner device indicated generally at 15 has a body portion 16 of stiff sheet material, preferably waterproof, laminar paperboard, the straight longitudinal edges of which are defined by crease score lines 17 and 18 which are formed in opposite sides of the sheet. The device is bent in opposite directions along the crease score lines 17 and 18 to provide wing members 19 and 20 which project in opposite directions from the body member 16 and, as seen in Figs. 4 and 6, are substantially parallel to one another.

The spinner device may be mounted on a cord by means of upright eyes 21 and 22, and a central longitudinal slot 23 which is formed in the body member. As best seen in Fig. 5, the eye 21 is provided by a closed loop 24 which is formed in a small piece of wire the ends of which are formed into mounting rings 25, and the eye is attached to the body member 16 by means of rivets 26 which extend through the mounting rings 25 and are crimped over said rings and over the opposite face of the body member. Similarly, the eye 22 is aflforded by a closed loop 27 which is formed in a small piece of wire the ends of which are formed into closed mounting rings 28 which are secured to the body member 16 by means of rivets 29. i I i The eyes 21 and 22 are positioned adjacent the opposite ends of the body member 16, and are on opposite faces of the body member so that the spinner device may be mounted on a cord 30 which extends through both eyes and through the center slot 23. Any desired number of spinner devices 15 may be mounted on a single cord 30, and after they are in their desired approximate locations positioning members 31 may be secured to the cord 30 to prevent undue longitudinal movement of each spinner device 15 on the cord. As seen in Fig. 15 each positioning member 31 is conveniently a small piece of sheet metal which has a U-shaped notch 32 in its margin which is large enough to receive the cord 30. It may be crimped with a pair of pliers so that the ear-like projections 33 at the entrance to the notch 32 are bent inwardly and crimped into gripping engagement with the cord 30 as shown in Fig. 14. As seen in Fig. 1, a positioning member 31 is preferably placed adjacent the outer face of each eye, and said members are of sufficient size that they can not pass through the eyes.

As seen in Fig. 1, each spinner device 15 lies substantially parallel to the line of the cord 30, and the spinner devices are stable in almost any position with respect.

to the cord 30 because of the slight binding of the cord on the ends of the slot 23. The wings 19 and 20 catch the wind and cause the spinner devices to rotate on the cord. Each spinner device may have its surfaces covered with any desired material, such as brightly colored lithograph paper or metallic paper of various colors. Preferably opposite sides of a spinner device will have material of different colors, so that as the; device spins as they appear 3 in the wind it will catch the eyes of persons passing the display.

The alternative form of spinner device illustrated in Figs. 8 to 12, inclusive, is designated generally by the number 115. It has a body member 116 provided on its opposite faces with longitudinal crease score lines 117 and 118 which define wing members 119 and 120. The body member is bent oppositely along the score lines '117 and 118 so that, as best seen in Fig. 12, the wing members 119 and 120 project in opposite directions from the body member and are substantially parallel to one another. At one end of the body member is a crease score line 117, and which extends at an oblique angle from an end of said score line 117 to define a tab 122. As best seen in Fig. 9 the tab 122 is disposed at an oblique angle with respect to the wing member 119,.and said wing member has a fastening fiap 123 which is sep arated frorn'the wing member 119 by a crease score line 124 so that it may be positioned in facing relationship to the tab 122 and may be secured thereto by means of a grommet 125. The opposite end of the body member 116 has a crease score line 126 which is on the same face as the crease score line 118, and which extends at an oblique angle from an end of said score line 118 to define a tab 127. i The wing member 120 has a fastening flap 128 which is separated from the wing member by a crease score line 129 so that it maybe positioned in facing relationship to the tab 127 and may be secured thereto by means of a grommet 130.

The grommets 125 and 130 are aligned with the ends of the longitudinal slot 132, and serve the same function as the wire eyes 21 in the preferred form of the device. Thus, the spinner devices may be mounted on a cord 131 which passes through the grommet 125, through a longitudinal slot 132 at the center of-the body member 116, and through the grommet 130.

When mounted upon the cord 131, the spinner devices 115 may be located in any desired positions on the cord and secured against longitudinal movement by means of a pair of positioningdevices 31.

Referring now to the second alternative form of the device shown in Figs. 16-20, inclusive, and referring first to Fig. 18, this form of the device, which is designated generally by the numeral 215, has a body memher 216 provided on its opposite faces with longitudinal crease score lines 217 and 218 which define wing members 219 and 220 respectively. The body member is bent oppositely along the-score lines 217 and 218 .so that, as best seen in Fig. 20, the wing members 219 and 220 project in opposite directions from the body member 216 and are substantially parallel to one another.

As best seen in Fig. 18, at one end of the body member 216 is a crease score line 221 which is on the same face as the crease score line 217 and which extends at right angles to said score line to define a tab 222. A

crease score line 223 at the end of the wing member 219 forms a continuation of the crease score line 221 and is separated therefrom by a keyhole-like slot 224 which extends diagonally from the end of the score line 217 along the line of the adjacent margin of the tab 222. The crease score line 223 defines an attaching flap 225 which has a finger portion 226 extending outside of the tab 222. A crease score line 227 is formed across the outer margin of the finger portion 226 to' define an assembly tab 228. The tab 222, the flap 225 and the assembly tab 228 are provided, respectively, with aper-' tures 229, 230 and 231.

As seen in'Fig. 17, at the opposite end of the body member 216 and on the same side thereof as the crease score line 218 is a crease score line 232 which extends at right angles to said score line to define a tab 233. A-

crease score line 234 at the end of the wing-member 220 forms a continuation of the crease score line 232 and is separated therefrom by a keyhole-like slot 235' similar to the slot 224 .at the opposite end of the device. The

crease score line 234 defines an attaching flap 236 which has a finger portion 237 extending outside of the tab 233.. A crease score line 238 is formed across the outer margin of the finger portion 226 to define an assembly tab 239. The flap 236 and the assembly tab 239 are provided, respectively, with apertures 241 and 242, and an aperture in the tab 233 registers with that in the flap 236.

The device is assembled by bending the wing members 219 and 220 in opposite directions along the score lines 217 and 218. The tab 222 is bent along the score line 221 to project in the same direction as the wing member The attaching flap 225 is then bent along the score line 223 so that it overlies the outer face of the tab 222, the keyhole-shaped aperture 224 affording the necessary clearance to permit the parts to be brought into this position. The aperture 230 is aligned with the aperture 229 and a grommet 243 is inserted in said apertures to hold the tab 222 and the flap 225 in their assembled positions. The assembly tab 228 is bent along the score line 227 so that it lies along the outside of the adjacent end of the wing member 221), the aperture 231 in said assembly tab is brought into register with a matching aperture 244 in said wing member, and a grommet 245 is inserted in the apertures 231 and 244 to secure the assembly tab 223 and the wing member 220 together.

The opposite end of the device is then assembled in the same manner, bending the tab 233 along the score line 232 to project in the same direction as the wing member 22d, and then bending the attaching flap 236 along the score line 234 to a position overlying the outer face of the tab 233, whereupon a grommet 246 is inserted through the aperture 241 and the aligned aperture in the tab 233. The assembly tab 239 is then bent along the score line 239 to a position against the outside of the wing member 219 so that the aperture 242 is in register with a matching aperture in said wing member 219. A grommet 243 is inserted in the aperture 242 and said matching aperture to complete the assembly.

From the foregoing description it is plain that the second alternative form of the device is very similar to the first alternative form, with the addition of the assembly tabs 228 and 239 which may be attached in each case to the opposite wing member so as to give a more rigid wing structure.

The body member 216 is provided with a longitudinal slot 249 which is aligned with the grommets 243 and 246 in the wing members 222 and 233, and serve the same function as the grommets and in the first alternative form of the device. Thus, the spinner devices 215 may be mounted on a cord 250 which passes through the grommet 243, through the longitudinal slot 249 and through the grommet 246.

When mounted upon the cord 250 the spinner devices 215 may be located in any desired positions on the cord and secured against longitudinal movement by means of a pair of positioning devices of the kind shown in Fig. 15.

The foregoing detailed description is given for clearness of understanding and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom as variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

We claim:

l. A spinner device adapted to be mounted on a cord, comprising: a body member of still sheet material having straight longitudinal edges and a centrally positioned longitudinal slot; a pair of narrow wing members secured to and projecting in opposite directions from said longitudinal edges and disposed in substantially parallel planes;

and an upright cord receiving eye secured to each face of the body member, said eyes being on the longitudinal axis of the body member adjacent its ends, and theeye on one face being at the opposite end from the eye on the other face, whereby said spinner maybe rotatably mounted generally, parallel to the line of a cord which passes through both said eyes and through said slot.

2. The spinner device of claim 1 in which the body member has a tab at each end which projects adjacent one of the wing members, each wing member has a hinged attaching flap secured to the adjacent tab, and the eyes are provided by apertures in the tabs and flaps.

3. The spinner device of claim 2 in which each attaching flap has at its outer end a hinged assembly tab which is secured to the opposite wing member.

4. The spinner device of claim 1 in which the eyes are provided by separate loop members riveted to the body member.

5. A spinner device adapted to be mounted on a cord, comprising: a paperboard body member having a central longitudinal slot, and having a straight longitudinal crease score line adjacent the margin of each face, said score lines defining wing members which project in opposite directions from said body member and which are disposed in substantially parallel planes; and an upright cord receiving eye secured to each face of the body member, said eyes being on the longitudinal axis of said body member adjacent its ends, and the eye on one face being at the opposite end from the eye on the other face, whereby said spinner may be rotatably mounted generally parallel to the line of a cord which passes through both said eyes and through said slot.

6. The spinner device of claim 5 in which there is a crease score line adjacent the end of each face, each of said score lines defining a tab which projects adjacent one of the wing members, each wing member has an integral hinged attaching flap secured to the adjacent tab by means of grommets, and said grommets form the eyes.

7. The spinner device of claim 6 in which each attaching flap has at its outer end a hinged assembly tab which is secured to the opposite wing member.

8. The spinner device of claim 5 in which the eyes are provided by wire members having closed loops and marginal attaching rings which are secured to the body member by means of rivets.

9. A display unit comprising: a cord; a plurality of spinner devices of sheet material rotatably mounted on and substantially parallel to the line of said cord in spaced relation to one another, each of said spinner devices having a body portion with a central longitudinal slot and an eye aligned with said slot adjacent the end of each face, the cord passing through both said eyes and said slot, and said spinner devices having longitudinally disposed windcatching wing portions; and positioning means on the cord between each pair of spinner devices to abut the margin of one of said eyes and retain the spaced relationship of said devices.

10. The display unit of claim 9 in which the positioning means is clamped onto the cord.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,642,906 Suggs Sept. 20, 1927 1,659,584 Willis Feb. 21, 1928 1,762,051 Cooney June 3, 1930 1,851,806 Brown Mar. 29, 1932 1,981,696 Harper Nov. 20, 1934 

